O’REILLY’S BRIDGE
Over time I have driven often across the old iron O’Reilly’s Bridge and canoed on the waterway that once was an important transportation route for early settlers. As an historical feature of the Welland River, I failed to acknowledge to myself that the bridge would disappear with time and be replaced by a modern, concrete structure. In my research I have read about so many old buildings disappearing from the landscape and wondered what the towns would have looked like in earlier days. Vintage postcards are an excellent way to view how life was. In the old newspapers there is references to O’Reilly’s Bridge and the community of people living nearby. Squire John B. O’Reilly farmed the land and it is documented that Pelham children used the bridge to reach their school.
Here is a sample of an event, 16 January 1909, documented in the Welland Tribune by One Who Knows, a correspondent for the early newspaper.
O’REILLY’S BRIDGE
Farewell and Oyster Supper
On Friday evening, Jan. 22nd, an oyster supper was held at the spacious home of Mr. and Mrs. R.A Phillips, who are about leaving the vicinity, having rented their farm to Mr. W.W. Dilts of Welland.
Although the night was dark and the roads bad, a large number of neighbors and friends were present to bid adieu to the inmates of the home, who have always been noted for generosity a kind hospitality.
The success of the evening was largely due to the untiring efforts of Mr. C. McCollum and Captain Hunter, who were the chief promoters of the very pleasant affair. After the oysters and other good things were disposed of, social chat and games, combined with selections on the piano, were enjoyed till the “wee sma hours,” when all wended their way homeward, after wishing Robbie and his family bon voyage in their future abode.
Mr. Phillips, we understand, intends moving on a fruit farm near St. Catharines.
O’REILLYS BRIDGE
[Welland Tribune, 29 January 1909]
Mrs. George Dochstader, who has been very ill, is improving.
Mr. and Mrs. Lounsberry of Canboro are visiting their son, P. Lounsberry.
Marcena Criegar, who insured his foot some time ago, is able to use it now.
The revival meetings, we are informed, have been postponed on account of the roads until next Monday evening.
We are glad to welcome Mr. Irwin and family, who are moving from Lindsay this week, to our neighborhood.
Miss Mable Woodwork of Binbrook arrived on Tuesday to spend several weeks with her sister, Mrs. Robert Murphy.
[Report of the oyster supper sent in by this correspondent has been published in a previous issue.-Ed.]
Stopped at St. John’s and Cook’s Mills
Interesting Reminiscences of Mr. D. G. Holcomb
[Welland Tribune, 8 January 1909]
The following brief but intensely story of the escape of William Lyons Mackenzie during the troublous times of 1837-8, is from the pen of D. Grove Holcomb, who was then a lad. Mr. Holcomb is now a resident of Power Glen, a few miles from Welland. He says:-
It was early in December, 1837, that MacKenzie’s force at Toronto was broken up. He went from there to Lafferty’s and asked Lafferty to protect him, and he did so. It was about eight o’clock in the morning and Lafferty had just begun to tramp out peas with his horses. He (Lafferty) dug a hole in the centre of his stack, put MacKenzie in, and covered them with peas tramping them down. In about an hour a squad of men came along looking for the fugitive. They said, “Where is Mackenzie?” The answer was I don’t know. They pulled up the stable floor, looked under the barn, and then went out to the stacks and jabbed down their bayonets, striking MacKenzie in the side so as to draw blood, after which they left and went west. MacKenzie went from Lafferty’s to Reynolds’ where he got a horse and went down to the house of Thomas Hardy, who lived east of Hamilton on the mountain. Mr. Hardy was not at home, but Mrs. Hardy said he would be back in less than an hour. She then hid him and took care of his horse. In something less than an hour Hardy was back, and they went to Samuel Chandler’s at St. Johns. Chandler went with him to Cook’s Mills, crossing the Welland River west of Welland, then to the Junction where Mr. Carter kept a hotel. His son, Charles Carter, a young man about 18 years of age, went with them to Cook’s Mills. They arrived at D. Holcomb’s about eleven o’clock, and went to bed and slept about 2 ½ hours, while John Hardy and others were fixing to take him to Wm. Current’s, putting the horse that MacKenzie rode in J. Wilson’s barnyard. Current took him to Mr. Macafee’s, getting there about eight o’clock in the morning. Here MacKenzie went into the house, got on Mrs. Macafee’s dress and bonnet, while the others were getting the boat ready. The river was guarded by soldiers from Niagara to Point Abino, some of them being kept in Macafee’s house. MacKenzie got in the front part of the boat, Current in the back part, while a Dutchman pulled at the oars.
Soldiers ordered them to come back but a man on shore said Mrs. Macafee was going to Buffalo to do some trading, so they let them go. So that is the way MacKenzie got to Buffalo. This was related to me by my mother, who also told me MacKenzie had lodged at our place the preceding night. My father went to Chippawa about ten o’clock, and the word came in that Mackenzie was captured. Mr. Jas. Cummins had the cannons fired off. My father told him that MacKenzie had passed through about four o’clock. Mr. Cummins came to my father and told him that MacKenzie was in Buffalo. By the way, Cummins was a friend of Mackenzie. This ended for a time, in Canada, the career of one of her greatest men. His friends were all true, and God protected him and got him through safely.
D.G. HOLCOMB
Power Glen, Jan. 4, 1909
[Welland Tribune, 22 January 1909]
Homer Buchner of Fullerton, who was committed to the Northern Ohio hospital, Newburg, Nov. 18, died in that institution of paralysis of the brain, de. 15. Funeral services were held in the Briar Hill church, Russell, Ohio, Thursday, Rev. H.A. Vernon, officiating.
Homer A. Buchner was born in Welland county, Ontario, March 11, 1852, and was aged 56 years, nine months and four days.
He was the youngest of four children born to Lewis and Margaret Buchner, two of whom survive him-Brock Buchner of Crowland, Ont., and John Buchner of Russell, Ohio.
On Nov. 14, 1875, he married Hulda A. Case of Ripley, N.Y. Three children were born to them: Wesley L. of Perry, Mae, Yent of Seattle, Wash., Warren M. of Chesterland. His wife died March 21, 1881, at Ripley. After a few years he came to Ohio and purchased land near Fullerton Station, and built thereon in 1890. H ran a huskster wagon sixteen years.
In 1900 he closed his Fullerton house and went to Cleveland to work remaining there two years. He returned to Fullerton and on April 12, 1901 was united in marriage to Elizabeth V. Painter of Chesterland. August 2nd he received a shock which left him insane, causing his committal to the hospital.
[Welland Tribune, 19 January 1909]
The Brantford Expositor has an extended reference to the father of George Scace, West Main St., who died suddenly in Brantford, and was buried on Thursday. It reads in part:
The late Mr. Scace was born in Ipswich, England, and came to Canada in early manhood, settling at Dundas, where he married Miss Emma Bickell, who predeceased him some five years ago. He settled in Brantford, where he had continuously resided since. He was prominent in St. Jude’s church, where he held the wardenship for a number of years. He was also a member of Wolfe Lodge, S.O.E. A large family is left to mourn his loss, as follows: George, Welland; W.R., Brockville; Fred, of Toronto; Charles, at home; W.B. and James, of the Cockshutt Plow Company, city; Mrs. Hall, Calgary; Mrs. Jos. Broadbent, city; and Miss Emma at home. A sad feature of the death is the critical illness of Chas. Scace at home. To the members of the family the sympathy of a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances will be extended in their hour of bereavement. The funeral takes place on Thursday afternoon.
A kind father, an upright and sterling citizen, and a faithful adherent of St. Jude’s church has been called home.
Niagara Falls South
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
Stricken with paralysis, it is thought, at the time he was found lying on Park St. by Officer Macnamara and others, on the evening of Jan. 7th., George Crandall, a resident of Niagara Falls South, was taken to the hospital, where he had a second attack, from which he died on Saturday. Deceased was about 50 years of age, married, and leaves a small family, besides his parents and a brother. It is thought that the effects of the exposure may have been a contributory cause to his death.
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Walter E. Campbell, the only person who ever swam the rapids of Niagara River, died last week at the county hospital at Lockport. He was 39 years old. He went through the rapids in 1889. Campbell was born in Youngstown, N.Y., and had served in the regular army in the Philippines. He went to the county hospital two weeks ago suffering from alcoholism.
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
The death occurred at Pelham Centre early Saturday morning of William Dawdy, aged 74 years. He had been a sufferer for several months. Interment was made in Dawdy’s burying ground on Monday. Deceased was never married, but leaves a brother, James, of Fenwick, and another brother Israel, of Pelham Centre, to mourn his demise. He had been a resident of Pelham for 35 or 40 years. Rev. Mr. Hall preached the funeral sermon.
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
On Sunday morning Mrs. John McGlashan died at North Pelham, aged 79 years and eight months. Mrs. McGlashan leaves a husband and a son, Archie McGlashan. Her maiden name was Eliza Eleanor Metler, and she was a very old resident of the township. The funeral will be held today (Tuesday) and interment made at North Pelham.
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
Jordan Jan.16-The death occurred here last night of D.C. Goold, a life-long resident of Jordan Station. Mr. Goold was stopping with a neighbor waiting for the arrival of a mail train, when he dropped back into a chair dead.
His sudden death came as a shock to his many friends. He was in his fiftieth year, and had been at work as usual all day. The cause of his death was heart failure. Deceased was a fruit grower and buyer for Montreal and other markets. A widow and one daughter are left to mourn their loss.
[People’s Press, 19 January 1909]
On Friday, Thomas Wilson, died at the Industrial Home, aged 78. The cause of death was congestion of the lungs. The deceased was a native of Humberstone and had been an inmate of the Home for about 2 years. Miss Lydia Richmond of Humberstone was admitted to the Home last week. She is 42 years of age.
Subscribe..
